Marcelo Sarvas sent in a cross that Landon Donovan let go past him for an oncoming Zardes. He controlled the ball with his left foot, then sent in a right-footed shot that hit off the left post and angled back behind the right goal line in the 20th minute.

It was Zardes' fourth goal in his last seven Major League Soccer matches.

Later, Sarvas earned a penalty kick in the final minute of stoppage time after being taken down by RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando inside the penalty area. His penalty kick to the lower left corner was saved by Rimando.